Got a summer job yet? It's time to apply

Happy New Year!

Got a summer job yet?

Winter started only a couple of weeks ago, but the Geneva Park District already is looking for people to fill nearly 100 seasonal slots in summer 2008.

About 25 people stopped by a mini "job fair" last month to pick up job descriptions and applications.

Almost a dozen types of jobs are available, including camp counselor, lifeguard, secretarial and maintenance. Pay varies, with lifeguards starting at $6.50 per hour, assistant naturalists at $8 and maintenance staff at $9.

Jennifer Schmidt, Peck Farm Park naturalist, said the park district had the job fair in December so it could catch collegians home for winter break. Younger teens are welcome to apply for some jobs, but you have to be at least 16 to be a lifeguard or work at Stone Creek Miniature Golf. Jobs where you run machinery such as lawn mowers require you to be at least 18.

Adults are welcome to apply; sometimes teachers have worked summers as camp counselors, Schmidt said.

Interviews will be conducted over spring break.

Many of the jobs start in May, although the parks and properties department is looking for maintenance workers who can begin in March.

Job descriptions and applications are available at the Geneva Community Center, 710 Western Ave.

You can also find a job application on its Web site, www.genevaparks.org, under the "Forms" section.

What kind of skills or personality does an applicant need to work at, say, Sunset Pool?

"Well, swimming. But the biggest thing is a sense of responsibility, by far," said Nicole Vickers, aquatic and recreation supervisor. Schmidt said her team needs to love the outdoors and enjoy working with children.

Who knows, a summer job could lead to a career. Vickers marveled that she has spent 13 of her 28 years working for park districts.

"I was a lifeguard and now I run a pool!" she said.